The Alaska Oil and Gas Association announced the recipients of its 2025 Industry Awards, recognizing individuals and companies whose work has strengthened Alaska’s oil and gas sector through leadership in safety, innovation, environmental stewardship, and service. The awards will be presented during AOGA’s annual conference, set for Aug. 27–28 at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage.
Contractor of the Year: Denali Universal Services
Denali Universal Services earned the award for Safety Performance, highlighting its decades-long track record of embedding safety across every level of its operations. The company, a longtime contractor for ConocoPhillips Alaska, has achieved more than 20 years of incident-free work and has been recognized with multiple industry safety honors. DUS’s culture emphasizes safety as a personal value, fostering practices that extend beyond the workplace and serve as a model across the industry.
Rising Star Award: Sydney Long, ConocoPhillips Alaska
Sydney Long, a senior analytics engineer, was honored for her early career impact on Alaska’s oil and gas sector. Long’s contributions include work on the 35,526-foot Fiord West well, the longest in North America, as well as the development of technical standards that have shaped company operations. In addition to her professional achievements, she mentors colleagues and volunteers with Alaska Resource Education to inspire future generations of Alaskans to pursue energy careers.
Marilyn Crockett Lifetime Achievement Award: Mark Ireland, Santos
Mark Ireland was recognized for more than 40 years of leadership and innovation in Alaska’s oilfields. Ireland played key roles in projects across the North Slope, including development of the Pikka Unit, and also served in international technical leadership positions. Known as a mentor and advocate for principled leadership, Ireland will retire this November, leaving a legacy that continues to guide young professionals in the industry.
Project of the Year: ConocoPhillips Alaska’s Colville River HDD Project
ConocoPhillips Alaska was honored for its use of horizontal directional drilling to install dual pipelines beneath the Colville River during a single winter season. The project, completed with no reportable injuries and no environmental impact, used real-time water monitoring to safeguard the river, a vital subsistence resource for the community of Nuiqsut. The effort demonstrated how advanced engineering can reduce environmental disturbance while maintaining efficiency and safety.